Santa Lucia fronts the second largest reef system on the planet according to the guide books, but the real beauty here is the variety of diving. 200m of shore lies the reef, so in inclement weather, diving the inside of the reef is the sensible option. On the outside, the walls are excellent, and several wrecks draw in the divers. Gentle currents and fascinating reef structures add to the variety, and steep walls, almost prehistoric animal looking reefs and plentiful marine life all add to the attractions!

The biggest draw to Santa Lucia however is one of the rare congregations of bull sharks. From September to January in particular, a large group of females use the nearby Nuevitas Channel as their breeding ground, and this is a dive not to be missed! It all starts from the shore – jump in from the concrete hard, drop down to the superb 110 year old timber wreck of the Nueva Mortera, and continue down to the sand plateau at 24m where the sharks live! Varying in numbers from 3-15, these 3m+ giants swim sedately along the seabed, coming up close to divers and the guides. They only downside is deco here – the time at depth flies by, and the wreck beckons as you swim up to your safety stop before your computers start shouting at you! Not a problem really though – just come back and do it all over again the next day!

Other than the sharks, Santa Lucia has plenty of dive sites, a great dive centre and amazing staff – this is a destination that, although of the beaten track, doesn’t disappoint!